Written by

Eric Jaffe

Senior Staff Writer

Rating: 4/5
Since Pixar let me down with Brave, no animated features have truly wowed me this year. Frankenweenie was good, but I’d be lying if I said it was one of the greats. There’s no denying it: 2012 has been dull for animation fans. Fortunately, there’s Wreck-It Ralph.

It’s based on a non-existent video game that shares the film’s title, and it’s about as entertaining as animated films can get. Featuring an all-star cast of classic video game characters (Sonic, Bowser and a few surprise guests) in addition to a crew of originals, gamer nerds are guaranteed shivers.

Starring John C. Reilly as the title character, the actor delivers an inspired vocal turn as the video game villain whose life’s purpose is to destroy buildings that an agitated player must repair over and over again. It’s a redundant, unappreciated gig that leaves Ralph craving heroism after hours. He’s a member of a bad guy support group (“just because you’re a bad guy doesn’t make you a bad guy,” they claim) and thinks constantly of running away. Today, he actually runs. Jumping through arcade games of different genres and styles, Wreck-It Ralph is a tour de force of top-notch animation and inventive set pieces. There’s a Mario Kart parody, some great sci-fi first person scenes and hilarious 18-bit action. Dubstep king Skrillex makes a cameo and blatant Sega cheat code references come by the dozen. It’s all great fun the whole way through.

All that’s missing is heart. Here’s how Disney often fails where Pixar soars: the former lacks in creating empathetic characters. Ralph is an incredibly well developed character and his situation is relatable, but somewhere along the line, the film loses touch of its message—it falls victim to its visuals and action pieces. The final chase scene is fun but lacks urgency or intensity. Director Rich Moore (The Simpsons) generates one-liners but no emotional hooks—a shame considering the droves of potential the plot holds. Wreck-It Ralph is a hilarious, fun-filled delight for audiences who still haven’t shaken out from summer blockbusters. It lacks the heart of a Pixar film, but for video game nerds, there’s a lot to enjoy here.